Computer system - An electronic device which is used to provide or obtain information and services.

Internet services - Services BSAC makes available by way of computer systems with a properly registered network address and domain name.

Website - Describes a computer system that is accessible by the general public by way of the internet and may include systems that are accessible both anonymously and by way of authentication.

Public - A user or users that may access to a computer system anonymously

User - An individual who has accessed a BSAC computer system by physical or electronic means.

Operator - An individual that has been properly delegated to provide services by electronic means.

Homepage - A human readable page of information that is provided by a particular computer system answering requests to a properly registered domain name.

Scope

The Purpose of this document is to describe the general operating policy by which BSAC will use electronic systems to make services and benefits available to BSAC members and others.

By accessing the electronic services BSAC make available, BSAC members and other visitors to its Websites consent to being bound by these policies.

Membership or standing within BSAC will not exclude individuals or organisations from compliance with these policies.

The rapid rate of technological change may require BSAC add to or alter specific policy and user guidance. Such policy and guidance will be provided separately and specifically to the services and systems to which it relates. Provision and change of such specific policy will be the responsibility BSAC Council or those it has properly delegated for the purpose.

It is the responsibility of individuals to acquaint themselves with specific policy prior to using the systems they affect.

BSAC will ensure that all users have the opportunity to consult the relevant policy documents by providing a link or notice displayed on the Home page of computer systems providing the service.

Internet services

BSAC operates a number of computer systems which are accessible by the general public using the internet. All operators and visitors to these Websites must accept and comply with the relevant policies governing the use and operation of BSAC Internet Services.

The BSAC Internet Services and Websites are identifiable by properly registered domain name which includes but is not limited to; bsac.com

BSAC Systems subject to this policy may be reached by way of other domain names and other means at the discretion of BSAC.

BSAC Website policy

Policy statement

Questions and comments concerning the BSAC Website Policy should be addressed to the BSAC IT Team Leader and made in the first instance by contacting BSAC HQ.

BSAC will use Computer Systems connected to the Internet for the purposes of providing services to BSAC members and others as it sees fit.

BSAC will make its best endeavours to comply with all relevant European and UK law governing the operation of computer systems, electronic information provision, electronic publishing and data processing.

Website content and accessibility

BSAC will not tolerate the use of its Websites for the purposes of harassment, discrimination or any other purpose that may be regarded as threatening toward an individual.

BSAC will make its best endeavours to avoid exclusion or discrimination by way of poorly designed electronic content. BSAC aim to meet all priority 1 requirements of the W3C Web Content Accessibility guidelines. Meeting this standard is commonly known as Level A compliance.

BSAC are welcoming and responsive to comments and suggestions from all those that may be affected by the design of electronic content or operation of computer systems which are directly controlled by BSAC. Concerns should be addressed to the BSAC IT Team Leader and made by contacting BSAC HQ in the first instance.

BSAC aim to remove all and any content that it deems to be inappropriate at the earliest opportunity possible.

Interactive website content

Interactive content comprises text graphics and other media that may be made available on BSAC websites in real time by persons outside the direct control of BSAC.

Interactive content may include but is not limited to;

Electronic Discussion forums.

File attachments.

Real time messaging systems.

Content Management Systems.

Web logs.

Interactive content is accepted at the sole discretion of BSAC Council and those properly delegated to represent it.

Content which is deemed inappropriate in the opinion of BSAC will be removed at the earliest opportunity.

Additional Policies and Guidelines for Interactive Content

BSAC Electronic privacy policy

Policy statement

Questions and comments concerning The BSAC Electronic Privacy Policy should be addressed to the BSAC Honorary Secretary and made in the first instance by contacting BSAC HQ.

BSAC will use its best endeavours to safeguard the privacy of its internet visitors.

The electronic privacy policy describes how BSAC may obtain and process the information that is gathered from its websites.

The Electronic Privacy Policy may be varied from time to time at the discretion of the BSAC Council. BSAC will endeavour to ensure that a link to the current privacy policy appears on the home page of computer systems and websites that are subject to it. The current policy can be obtained on request by contacting BSAC HQ.

In agreeing to provide personal information by electronic means individuals and organisations do not forfeited their rights as prescribed under the Data Protection Act 1998. BSAC will continue to apply the same level of care and rigour to safeguard the privacy of BSAC members and other visitors to its Websites.

How is personal information collected?

Personal information may be collected with the consent of the user by way of interactive submission.

Personal information may be requested in person by a member of BSAC.

Personal information may be collected automatically without the knowledge of the user. Use of BSAC websites will indicate that a user has consented to the collection of this information by BSAC.

What information is collected?

BSAC may collect personal information appropriate to the service which is requested.

In the course of operation BSAC may record information which is provided automatically by a users computer system without the knowledge of the user. This may include details which can be used to identify a geographic location, organisation or individual.

How does BSAC use this information?

There are various reasons why personal information is gathered electronically which includes but is not limited to;

Provision of electronic services that require a users authenticity to be established.

Provision of other services offered by BSAC.

Participation in electronic surveys

Participation in events offered by BSAC

Information gathered with the explicit consent of the user will only be used for the purpose for which it was intended except in those circumstances where BSAC must provide it to fulfil statutory obligations.

BSAC may use personal details to contact users directly for the purposes of obtaining further information needed to fulfil the original purpose.

BSAC may use personal information to contact users by electronic or physical means including but not limited to;

Sending e-mail to those that have requested it

Telephoning users to obtain additional information and clarification

Other electronic and physical correspondence.

Information that is gathered automatically without the explicit consent of the user will not be used by BSAC to identify an individual. BSAC may use this information for the purposes of demographic and statistical reporting with the purpose of enhancing the services that it offers to BSAC members and other users. BSAC may make this information available to others to fulfil its statutory obligations.

BSAC email

BSAC will endeavour to use e-mail addresses supplied to it conscientiously and with due regard for the wishes of the owner of the address.

Individuals related to a commercial organisation may receive e-mail from BSAC on behalf of the commercial organisation where a relationship between BSAC and the commercial organisation has been previously established.

BSAC will contact all members for whom it has an email address regarding essential company business. These include changes to the 3rd Party Insurance Policy, Notification of AGM and accounts. These emails will be sent as and when required, at an expected frequency of once per year.

BSAC will contact all members for whom it has an email address regarding significant updates to the DTP or changes to SDCs. BSAC will contact all members for whom it has an email address when significant changes to the benefits offered to members occur. This will be by invite to view the relevant BSAC website rather than direct selling. The frequency of these emails is anticipated to be 3-4 per year.

BSAC will email individual members for whom it has an email address when they have achieved a new diving or instructing grade to advise on routes for further training and invite them to complete a survey. BSAC will contact each member from whom it has an email address on their birthday. BSAC may securely disclose email addresses to a third party. The emails addresses may only be used for BSAC business (for example email transmission and surveys) and shall not be retained by the third party.

BSAC email mailing lists

BSAC operate a number of automated electronic mailing lists to provide services and benefits to BSAC members and others in a timely and convenient manner.

BSAC will at all times comply with European and UK directives covering the sending of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (spam).

Individuals receiving e-mail from BSAC electronic mailing lists will;

Have provided an e-mail address to BSAC.

Consented to BSAC sending e-mail to the address provided (opt in).

Be provided with instructions to be removed from the e-mail list within each and every correspondence made on behalf of the list.

BSAC opt in lists include but are not limited to BSAC Talk, the BSAC National Diving Committee Bulletin, Snorkelling news, the BSAC Shop News and Member Benefits News. Lists will normally send no more than one email per month. Members may choose which lists they receive via the membership area on the bsac.com website.

What information may BSAC store on a users computer?

Information that is obtained by users of BSAC websites may be stored persistently by the users computer. This may occur by interactive or automatic means and is beyond the control of BSAC.

In order to provide electronic services in a timely and convenient manner it may be necessary for BSAC to store information on a users computer system by way of an electronic token known as a cookie. Such a token will contain only the information necessary to operate the service and is the only means by which BSAC will store information onto a users computer without the express knowledge and consent of the user.

Token files created by BSAC will;

be obviously identifiable

may not interfere with the operation of the users computer in any other way

How may BSAC disclose information to third parties?

BSAC may disclose your personal information and any information gathered automatically when required by law or in the good-faith believe that such actions are necessary to;

Conform to the edicts of the law or comply with a legal process served on BSAC

Protect and defend the rights or property of The BSAC, or visitors to the BSAC Websites

Identify persons who may be violating the law, the legal notice, or the rights of third parties;

Cooperate with the investigations of purported unlawful activities.

Facilitate the sale of all or part of BSAC capital stock or assets.

Security

BSAC will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the personal data it gathers in the course of operating electronic computer systems will be kept securely and within the control of BSAC at all times.

BSAC will take reasonable precautions to ensure that all representations made for and on behalf of BSAC will be clearly identifiable.

Data Protection

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 a user within the United Kingdom can make a formal request for the following information to be disclosed;

Clarification that their personal data is being processed by BSAC

A description and copy of such personal information

The reasons why such data is being processed

Details of to whom they are or may be disclosed

BSAC reserves the right to charge an administration fee commensurate with the time and expertise needed to provide such information.

BSAC Electronic advertising policy

Policy statement

Questions and comments concerning The BSAC Electronic Advertising Policy should be addressed to the BSAC Web Advertising Team Leader and made in the first instance by contacting BSAC HQ.

Only those Commercial Advertisements properly accepted and complying with the BSAC Web Advertising terms and conditions may be displayed on BSAC Websites.

Commercial advertisements may be accepted for display on The BSAC Websites at the discretion of the BSAC Web Advertising Group.

These Terms and Conditions for BSAC Web Advertising are available from BSAC HQ on request.

Electronic commercial advertising

A commercial advertisement will comprise any display or communication made for the purposes of obtaining pecuniary or other benefit in the course of operating a business.

Commercial advertisements may encompass but are not limited to;

Text and graphics displayed on Websites

E-mail and other direct correspondence between persons and organisations.

Voice and audio messages.

Links to Websites outside the direct control of BSAC.

Testimonials and recommendations made on behalf of organisations engaged in the operation of a business.

BSAC Members and those commercial organisations that are properly endorsed to carry The BSAC name and logo may be eligible for preferential treatment in respect of commercial advertising as decided by BSAC from time to time.

Non-commercial advertising

A non-commercial advertisement will comprise any display or communications which is made for the purposes of obtaining pecuniary or other benefit by individuals which can be proven to be unrelated to the operation of a business they or others are engaged in.

Non-commercial advertisements are accepted on a good will basis only. No right or entitlement will be associated to the acceptance or display of such an advertisement.

Terms and conditions covering the acceptance and display of non-commercial advertisements will be displayed and provided as is appropriate in the opinion of BSAC.

Conflict and resolution

There may be occasions where an advertisement is not clearly identifiable as commercial or non-commercial. A final decision will be at the sole discretion of The BSAC Council or those properly delegated to act on its behalf.

BSAC Facebook terms and conditions

BSAC’s Facebook ‘house rules’

We want our Facebook page to be a place where people are comfortable to share how they feel about BSAC and talk about their experiences in a fun environment. We hope that any BSAC member adheres to these house rules when they are on any BSAC club page or group too.

The house rules aim to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves whilst using Facebook:

We ask you to be nice and polite to one another and respect each other’s views and comments.

We ask all users to ensure your contributions are civil, polite, tasteful and suitable for all ages.

We won't tolerate any behaviour or content posting that BSAC believes to be offensive, abusive, unlawful or objectionable. This includes any material which might be;

defamatory, offensive, infringing, obscene, lewd, pornographic, violent, abusive, insulting, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, blasphemous, indecent, racist, sexist, homophobic, aggressive, argumentative, construed as bullying, seen as endorsing illegal activity, against the values of BSAC or the making of libellous allegations about named or identifiable individuals.

No “for sale” or commercial postings unless you are a BSAC partner. No spamming or repetition, please, nor off-topic material in subject-specific threads or areas. Always check the facts when posting about dive medicine and diving health and safety.

BSAC’s Facebook ‘house rules’ - Moderation policy

Most of the time we don’t moderate posts on our official Facebook page – only on the rare occasion that someone has used offensive language, made libellous allegations about named or identifiable individuals or has demonstrated any of the behaviours we have listed above.

We have a duty to protect our staff, volunteers and members. We don’t want to have to delete comments but our legal position is that any post containing a libellous accusation, should be removed. If an individual continues to post offensive, threatening or libellous content or has demonstrated any of the behaviours we have listed above then we’ll be forced to block that person from the page.

If you’re concerned that a posting or other user has broken any of our house rules or you’re worried about any comment or content then please send us an email to marketing@bsac.com and let us know.

Please note that the visitor posts on our Facebook page are created by our community and don’t necessarily represent the views or opinions of BSAC.

BSAC’s Facebook ‘house rules’ - Contacting BSAC

We make sure we're available to respond to your comments and queries between 9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, and sometimes we'll check in at the weekend because we've missed you :)

We welcome all feedback – it helps us to learn and grow. The quickest way to have a concern or query dealt with is to contact us directly, please email us or call +44 (0)151 350 6200.

BSAC Facebook Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice.

The BSAC Facebook page is a community and as such we ask users to adhere to Facebook's terms of use.

BSAC’s YouTube ‘house rules’

We want our YouTube channel to be a place where people are comfortable to share how they feel about BSAC and talk about their experiences in a fun environment. We hope that any BSAC member adheres to these house rules when they are on any BSAC social network too.

The house rules aim to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves whilst using YouTube:

We ask you to be nice and polite to one another and respect each other’s views and comments.

We ask all users to ensure your contributions are civil, polite, tasteful and suitable for all ages.

We won't tolerate any behaviour or content posting that BSAC believes to be offensive, abusive, unlawful or objectionable. This includes any material which might be;

defamatory, offensive, infringing, obscene, lewd, pornographic, violent, abusive, insulting, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, blasphemous, indecent, racist, sexist, homophobic, aggressive, argumentative, construed as bullying, seen as endorsing illegal activity, against the values of BSAC or the making of libellous allegations about named or identifiable individuals.

No spamming or repetition, please, nor off-topic material in subject-specific threads or areas.

BSAC YouTube channel moderation policy

Most of the time we don’t moderate posts on our official YouTube channel – only on the rare occasion that someone has used offensive language, made libellous allegations about named or identifiable individuals or has demonstrated any of the behaviours we have listed above.

We have a duty to protect our staff, volunteers and members. We don’t want to have to delete comments but our legal position is that any post containing a libellous accusation, should be removed. If an individual continues to post offensive, threatening or libellous content or has demonstrated any of the behaviours we have listed above then we’ll be forced to block that person from the page.

If you’re concerned that a comment or other user has broken any of our house rules or you’re worried about any comment or content then please send us an email and let us know.